Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has been diagnosed with lung cancer, the New York Democrat announced Monday.

Calling the illness "treatable," McCarthy said in an official statement that she plans to begin a treatment plan "soon," and that her doctors at the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center say she is in "good physical health."

"There will be some tough days ahead and I will have to miss activities in Washington during my treatment in New York," she continued, "but I will continue to be a strong advocate for the 4th Congressional District — and ... my capable and longtime staff will continue to support the needs of my constituents."

McCarthy also asked for privacy as she undergoes treatment, while calling herself a "fighter."

Though the official statement does not include what physicians believe is the cause of McCarthy's cancer, she is a frequent smoker known to be a fixture among the House members — including Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio — who like to step out onto the balcony in the Speakers' Lobby for cigarettes and cigars in between votes.